Kathy Griffin, the comedian known for her controversial humor, recently voiced her frustrations with Stephen Colbert over a 2018 interview on “The Late Show.” In this interview, Griffin felt that Colbert ambushed her by repeatedly questioning her about a notorious photo from 2017 where she held up a fake bloody head resembling President Trump.
In a video shared on her YouTube channel, titled “Stephen Colbert made me cry!”, Griffin explained that before the interview, she requested Colbert not to discuss the Trump photo. A producer assured her that it wouldn’t be a topic, yet moments before going on stage, she was informed that Colbert had changed his mind.
Griffin attempted to divert the conversation but was shocked by how intensively Colbert pressed her on the issue. She described it as feeling like an interrogation similar to what one might see on “60 Minutes,” recognizing a bias against her that she hadn’t anticipated.
Throughout the interview, Griffin struggled to hold back her emotions. She characterized the experience as a “bulls— ambush,” claiming it was infused with misogyny, suggesting that a male comedian would not have faced the same treatment in such a situation. She criticized Colbert for using his platform to target someone she considers a “D-list” celebrity.
While she once respected Colbert, her experience during the interview left her with a poor opinion of him, referring to him with disdain.
In the 2018 segment, Colbert spent a significant amount of time grilling Griffin about the backlash from her photo, discussing how it affected her life and career. Griffin noted that many people accused her of being affiliated with ISIS, and she faced severe backlash, including a federal investigation.
Defending her actions under the First Amendment, she argued with Colbert about the limits of discourse regarding the President. However, Colbert pushed back, arguing that some things should not be said in relation to a sitting President.
Griffin’s claims reflect broader concerns about how comedians can express their views without facing severe backlash, especially in today’s highly polarized political climate.
